Archive: January, 2006

Jeff, Pat and Mike review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Expedition Everest is soft opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
• Is Disney most dominant in Orlando? Any chance of that changing?
• Disney buys Pixar, we try to find the importance to the industry.
• Paramount Parks are up for sale... let the speculation begin on buyers.
• Six Flags has a good two week run on announcements concerning changes around the company, ranging from agency changes, consultants, new executive appointments, non-smoking parks, etc.

Jeff, Pat, Greg and Mike review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Paramount's Kings Island says they'll do Winterfest again next season.
• Camp Snoopy no more, as Mall of America lets their Peanuts license slip.
• Disney parks in Orlando have record holiday season. Is this the return of pre-9/11 tourism or really good marketing?
• Six Flags chief says new rides aren't the key to boosting attendance, making things family friendly are.
• There's no way of telling if all of the talk from the new Six Flags regime will be successful so we have to wait and see.
• While temporary, some Six Flags parks momentarily said they would not allow re-entry into their parks. What the hell were they thinking?
• Is "classism" a factor in pricing admission to the amusement parks?
• Six Flags success going forward will depend on the perception of real value.

Jeff, Pat and Mike review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Cypress Gardens looks for continued momentum.
• Dick Kinzel honored by local paper. Is he in the same category as Walt Disney in the amusement industry?
• Cedar Fair attendance up slightly, but results vary wildly by park.
• AstroWorld auction: Who can or needs to buy these rides?
• Orlando ticket prices rise again. The emphasis is clearly on multi-day visits and on-property stays.

Jeff and Pat look back at the year that was 2005, in a 90-minute special. This episode is very loose and unstructured, with tangents all over the place. You've been warned!